Grid Modernization I Program

Distribution System Modernization

Grid Mod I, a plan approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), was a three-year project to modernize an Ohio utility’s distribution system which serves more than one million customers across 34 Ohio counties. Work began in the Spring of 2020 and was completed in the Fall of 2022.

Welty Energy was hired to provide staff support in the execution of Grid Modernization Plans (Grid Mod I & II). Welty team members included project managers, project coordinators, and analysts for improvements occurring in the Toledo Edison, Ohio Edison, and The Illuminating Company service areas.

Specific distribution system upgrades to enhance electric service reliability included:

• Electrical equipment upgrades in substations
• Installation/replacement of utility poles
• Replacement of existing power lines with thicker, more durable wire to withstand severe weather and tree debris
• Creation of additional circuit ties where adjacent distribution lines are interconnected so power can be rerouted from another source if the line is damaged. The result will be faster power restoration
• Installation of new automated reclosers that help restore power to customers quickly in the event of a power outage
• Installation of capacitor banks ensuring customers being served by a single power line to optimize power voltages being fed to all
• Installation of approximately 704,000 smart meters, which will enable automated meter readings and enhance the ability to respond to outages faster and more efficiently in the future